March 20, Pioneer Press: It's official: Flip Saunders won't be returning to his alma mater to coach the Gophers men's basketball team this year.

University of Minnesota officials have been told privately by people close to Saunders' representatives that he is not a candidate for the Gophers' job and that the university should go in another direction. The reasons are that Saunders, 51, is committed to this season and the next two years of his Detroit Pistons contract (worth $9.5 million in base salary), as well as trying to win an NBA championship.